Featured

Featured Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

8

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

1

  • Spark Plugs
  • 8 steps

Flags

This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.

  • Back1998-2002 Honda Accord

  • Full Screen

  • Options

  • History

  • Save to Favorites

  • Download PDF

  • Edit

  • Translate

  • Get Shareable Link

  • Embed This Guide

  • Notify Me of Changes

  • Stop Notifications

Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Spark Plugs
  • Begin by locating the four spark plug connectors near the front of the valve cover of your engine.
  • We recommend replacing the spark plugs one at a time to prevent mixing up the spark plug connectors.
  • You can also label the connectors 1-4, left to right, to keep track of which plug you’re working on.

Begin by locating the four spark plug connectors near the front of the valve cover of your engine.

We recommend replacing the spark plugs one at a time to prevent mixing up the spark plug connectors.

You can also label the connectors 1-4, left to right, to keep track of which plug you’re working on.

1024

Step 2

  • Grab the top of the spark plug connector and pull upward while rocking the connector around its socket.
  • This may require a significant amount of force.
  • Once the connector has been disconnected from the top of the spark plug, lift it out of the engine.
  • For more slack to move the spark plug connector out of the way, simply pop the spark plug wire out of the closest plastic loom.

Grab the top of the spark plug connector and pull upward while rocking the connector around its socket.

This may require a significant amount of force.

Once the connector has been disconnected from the top of the spark plug, lift it out of the engine.

For more slack to move the spark plug connector out of the way, simply pop the spark plug wire out of the closest plastic loom.

Step 3

  • At this point, you can peer down into the spark plug hole and see the top of the spark plug.
  • Attach a 5/8" spark plug socket to a 10" ratchet extension, and attach the extenstion to a socket wrench.
  • Lower the spark plug socket down into the spark plug hole and press downward to firmly seat the spark plug in the rubber retainer found inside the socket. Make sure that the hex thread of the socket lines up with the hex thread of the spark plug.
  • Rotate the socket wrench counter-clockwise to loosen the spark plug from the cylinder head.
  • Lift the spark plug out of the cylinder head.
  • Remove the old spark plug from the spark plug socket.

At this point, you can peer down into the spark plug hole and see the top of the spark plug.

Attach a 5/8" spark plug socket to a 10" ratchet extension, and attach the extenstion to a socket wrench.

Lower the spark plug socket down into the spark plug hole and press downward to firmly seat the spark plug in the rubber retainer found inside the socket. Make sure that the hex thread of the socket lines up with the hex thread of the spark plug.

Rotate the socket wrench counter-clockwise to loosen the spark plug from the cylinder head.

Lift the spark plug out of the cylinder head.

Remove the old spark plug from the spark plug socket.

Step 4

  • Even if you are using pre-gapped spark plugs, it is a good idea to check the gap before installing your new plugs.
  • Insert the thinnest portion of a spark plug gap gauge between the center electrode and the ground electrode of the spark plug.
  • While holding the gauge between the spark plug gap, rotate it until it gently wedges itself into the gap.
  • The distance of the spark plug gap can now be read off the gauge. The factory spec for this vehicle is anywhere from .039 to .043 inches.

Even if you are using pre-gapped spark plugs, it is a good idea to check the gap before installing your new plugs.

Insert the thinnest portion of a spark plug gap gauge between the center electrode and the ground electrode of the spark plug.

While holding the gauge between the spark plug gap, rotate it until it gently wedges itself into the gap.

The distance of the spark plug gap can now be read off the gauge. The factory spec for this vehicle is anywhere from .039 to .043 inches.

Step 5

  • Insert a new spark plug into the spark plug socket until it is seated within the rubber retainer inside.
  • Lightly coat the threads of the spark plug in anti-seize lubricant to aid in removal the next time the spark plugs are replaced.
  • Do not get any anti-seize lubricant on either of the two electrodes.
  • Since the rubber retainer inside the spark plug socket holds the spark plug very firmly, you can tape the socket to the extension to aid in removing the socket once the spark plug is installed.

Insert a new spark plug into the spark plug socket until it is seated within the rubber retainer inside.

Lightly coat the threads of the spark plug in anti-seize lubricant to aid in removal the next time the spark plugs are replaced.

Do not get any anti-seize lubricant on either of the two electrodes.

Since the rubber retainer inside the spark plug socket holds the spark plug very firmly, you can tape the socket to the extension to aid in removing the socket once the spark plug is installed.

Step 6

  • It is easiest to accomplish this step with the socket wrench disconnected from the extension.
  • Carefully lower the new spark plug down into its hole, being sure not to contact the spark plug with the side of the tube leading to the cylinder head.
  • Once the spark plug has reached the threads in the cylinder head, hand tighten the spark plug.

It is easiest to accomplish this step with the socket wrench disconnected from the extension.

Carefully lower the new spark plug down into its hole, being sure not to contact the spark plug with the side of the tube leading to the cylinder head.

Once the spark plug has reached the threads in the cylinder head, hand tighten the spark plug.

Step 7

  • Use a torque wrench to tighten the spark plug to a spec of 156 in-lbs (13 ft-lbs).
  • If a torque wrench is unavailable, tighten the spark plugs by hand, and finish with a 1/4-1/2 turn using a socket wrench until snug.
  • Do not over-tighten the spark plugs, as the threads may strip out of the soft aluminum cylinder head.

Use a torque wrench to tighten the spark plug to a spec of 156 in-lbs (13 ft-lbs).

If a torque wrench is unavailable, tighten the spark plugs by hand, and finish with a 1/4-1/2 turn using a socket wrench until snug.

Do not over-tighten the spark plugs, as the threads may strip out of the soft aluminum cylinder head.

Step 8

  • Reinstall the spark plug connector and, if necessary, push the spark plug wire back into its plastic loom.
  • Make sure the spark plug connector clicks firmly in place, and double-check all four connectors once you’re finished with all the plugs.
  • Repeat this procedure for all four spark plugs.

Reinstall the spark plug connector and, if necessary, push the spark plug wire back into its plastic loom.

Make sure the spark plug connector clicks firmly in place, and double-check all four connectors once you’re finished with all the plugs.

Repeat this procedure for all four spark plugs.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      33 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 5 other contributors 


                    Miroslav Djuric

156,282 Reputation

                                      144 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       54







                                                        +51 more badges

RZ H - Sep 20, 2013

Reply

It is a good idea to use compressed air to blow out any debris or dirt in the plug cavity before removing the old plug. You can use an air can from the computer store. A short burst is sufficient.

Alex Morales - Nov 14, 2015

Reply

Hi I have a question. I purchased some spark plugs that have the torque labeled at 21 lbs. I bought I Torque wrench but I found out that by using an extension, I would have to change the torque to a lower setting. Do you know of what number I should set it too ?

Rick Yao - Sep 8, 2020

Actually, it is better to use a higher torque rating, as extensions have torsion, especially the smaller 1/4 or 3/8 size extensions. I would recommend you set it to 22 or 23 foot pounds.

Jeanie Marcelle - Apr 20, 2016

Reply

It will be nicer if you give specs like the socket size you used various other settings like that …

OVATSUG SAEB - Oct 12, 2017

i just tuch it it was on then came of and that’s it no more